Saint Thomas applies for MetroCenter behavioral hospital

Saint Thomas Health officials have filed an application with state regulators to build a 76-bed psychiatric hospital with Franklin-based Acadia Healthcare on Great Circle Road in MetroCenter.

The proposed building, a $32 million project, would be split almost equally between adult and geriatric beds and sit roughly across the street from Second Harvest Food Bank’s facility. If approved in the coming weeks, The Tennessean reports it would open in early 2020 — at which point Saint Thomas would take offline 24 geriatric beds at its Saint Thomas West hospital.